Apparatus and method for steam disinfection of a powder

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for the sterilization of natural products without negatively effecting the properties of the system having a sterilization chamber; a sample area within the sterilization chamber to hold one or more steam permeable containers; a heater source connected to the sterilization chamber for heating the sterilization chamber to a predetermined temperature; a heater control unit connected to the heater source for controlling the predetermined temperature; a pressure source connected to the sterilization chamber for pressurizing the sterilization chamber to a predetermined pressure; a pressure control unit connected to the pressure source for controlling the predetermined pressure; a steam aperture for supplying steam to the sterilization chamber; a steam control unit connected to the temperature and duration of the steam; and an interface connected to the heater control unit, pressure control unit, and steam control unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for sterilization of natural products using dry superheated steam without negatively effecting the properties of the final product comprising the steps of:
 providing a dry steam sterilization apparatus comprising a sterilization chamber, a steam generator and a steam drying chamber; 
 providing one or more samples comprising one or more natural products for sterilization before they can be used by manufacturers and/or consumers; 
 placing the one or more samples in a steam permeable container; 
 placing the steam permeable container in the sterilization chamber; 
 heating the sterilization chamber to a predetermined temperature; 
 controlling the predetermined temperature; 
 pressurizing the sterilization chamber to a predetermined pressure; 
 pulling a vacuum for a predetermined length of time and pressure; 
 controlling the predetermined pressure; 
 producing a steam supply with the steam generator 
 superheating the steam supply to produce a superheated steam; 
 passing the superheated steam through the steam drying chamber to produce a dry superheated steam; 
 supplying an amount of the superheated dry steam to the sterilization chamber; and 
 controlling an application time for the heating, the pressurizing and the supplying the amount of the superheated dry steam to achieve at least partial sterilization of the one or more samples. 
 
     
     
       2. The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of repeating the steps one or more times to achieve the desired level of sterilization of the one or more samples. 
     
     
       3. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more samples are one or more powders for sterilization before they can be used by manufacturers and/or consumers. 
     
     
       4. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pressure is a negative pressure. 
     
     
       5. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined temperature is between 100 to 300° F. 
     
     
       6. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pressure is between 0-15 psi. 
     
     
       7. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more samples are heated, pressurized, and steamed for between 5-300 minutes. 
     
     
       8. A process for sterilization of natural products using dry superheated steam without negatively effecting the properties of the final product comprising the steps of:
 providing a dry steam sterilization apparatus comprising a sterilization chamber, a steam generator and a steam drying chamber; 
 providing one or more natural powder product samples; 
 placing the one or more samples in a steam permeable container; 
 placing the steam permeable container in the sterilization chamber; 
 heating the sterilization chamber to a predetermined temperature; 
 controlling the predetermined temperature; 
 pressurizing the sterilization chamber to a predetermined pressure; 
 pulling a vacuum for a predetermined length of time and at the predetermined pressure; 
 controlling the predetermined pressure; 
 producing a steam supply with the steam generator 
 superheating the steam supply to produce a superheated steam; 
 passing the superheated steam through the steam drying chamber to produce a dry superheated steam; 
 supplying an amount of the superheated dry steam to the sterilization chamber; and 
 controlling an application time for the heating, the pressurizing and the supplying the amount of the superheated dry steam to achieve at least partial sterilization of the one or more samples.